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| Carles Puigdemont: German prosecutors are seeking extradition of Catalan separatist leader | Carles Puigdemont: German prosecutors are seeking extradition of Catalan separatist leader |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| German prosecutors are seeking to extradite former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to Spain, after the pro-independence politician was detained as he attempted to travel through German territory. | German prosecutors are seeking to extradite former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to Spain, after the pro-independence politician was detained as he attempted to travel through German territory. |
| Mr Puigdemont has been living in self-imposed exile to avoid charges of rebellion, sedition, and the misuse of public funds – levelled by Madrid in relation to his part in last year's Catalan independence referendum. | Mr Puigdemont has been living in self-imposed exile to avoid charges of rebellion, sedition, and the misuse of public funds – levelled by Madrid in relation to his part in last year's Catalan independence referendum. |
| He was trying to travel from Belgium, where he had been living, to Finland, when he was arrested on 25 March by German authorities. | He was trying to travel from Belgium, where he had been living, to Finland, when he was arrested on 25 March by German authorities. |
| The former president would likely face trial if he returned to Spain. | The former president would likely face trial if he returned to Spain. |
| German prosecutors in the region of Schleswig said they had asked their local court to formally put Mr Puigdemont in pre-extradition custody. They said they had conducted a "intensive examination" of the European arrest warrant issued by Spain's supreme court on March 23 for the politician's arrest. | German prosecutors in the region of Schleswig said they had asked their local court to formally put Mr Puigdemont in pre-extradition custody. They said they had conducted a "intensive examination" of the European arrest warrant issued by Spain's supreme court on March 23 for the politician's arrest. |
| "The accusation of rebellion contains at its core the allegation of carrying out an unconstitutional referendum despite expectations of violent disturbances," the prosecutors said. | "The accusation of rebellion contains at its core the allegation of carrying out an unconstitutional referendum despite expectations of violent disturbances," the prosecutors said. |
| It is expected that the Schleswig court will take several days to decide on whether to honour the prosecutors' request. | It is expected that the Schleswig court will take several days to decide on whether to honour the prosecutors' request. |
| Mr Puigdemont's lawyers said the German government should intervene on his behalf, citing a "political dimension" to his arrest and charges. | Mr Puigdemont's lawyers said the German government should intervene on his behalf, citing a "political dimension" to his arrest and charges. |
| Following Catalonia's attempt to declare independence, the Spanish central government suspended home rule in the region and called new local elections. | Following Catalonia's attempt to declare independence, the Spanish central government suspended home rule in the region and called new local elections. |
| Though the disparate pro-independence parties together won another slim majority in the Catalan regional parliament and again agreed that Mr Puigdemont should be their first candidate for president, he was unable to be sworn in because he could not physically attend the body's sitting. Attempts to have him sworn in as president remotely or by proxy failed. | Though the disparate pro-independence parties together won another slim majority in the Catalan regional parliament and again agreed that Mr Puigdemont should be their first candidate for president, he was unable to be sworn in because he could not physically attend the body's sitting. Attempts to have him sworn in as president remotely or by proxy failed. |